Where would we be without our RCMP officers, firefighters and paramedics? The answer - in deep, deep trouble.
Several recent incidents have prompted us to remember and recognize these brave and talented men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis to protect us from harm's way.
On Aug. 25, Sunshine Coast RCMP received a report of a troubled woman who was contemplating suicide by drowning herself in the ocean off a local beach.
Const. Harrison Mohr was the first on the scene and found the woman in the water. After trying to talk with her and get her back to shore, Mohr gave his gun and duty belt to a fellow officer and dove in to save her. He reached her and talked her into coming back to shore where a waiting ambulance took her to hospital so she could receive the care she needed.
Const. Mohr is a hero in our book.
Then just last week, a member of the public reported seeing a youth board a transit bus in Roberts Creek carrying a handgun. RCMP responded, following the bus to Gibsons, where officers arrested the young teen with a replica handgun. The youth, after receiving a stern warning, was released. But the incident was fraught with potential dire consequences. What if the youth had turned the gun on police? What if he had turned it on innocent onlookers? Before the teen was arrested, officers had no idea what they were dealing with and whether the weapon was real or not.
The streets around Marine Drive were secured and several witnesses reported to us that the scene looked straight out of a movie - chaotic, but controlled.
And last, but certainly not least, kudos go to the Gibsons volunteer fire department who battled a mobile home fire last Thursday.
Thick clouds of black smoke could be seen for miles the afternoon of Aug. 30. When firefighters arrived on scene, smoke and flames were pouring out of a structure, and the trees above the home were also ablaze. It took the efforts of 14 firefighters to contain the fire and make sure it did not spread to any adjacent homes or the nearby forest.
Onlookers stayed back for the most part and were respectful of the firefighters' efforts, but one of the firefighters we spoke to afterwards commented that it sure would have been nice if motorists pulled over to the side of the road to allow the fire trucks to get through on their way to the scene.
That goes for all emergency vehicles - police, fire and ambulance. When you hear the sirens wailing, pull over and let them pass. Every second counts when these folks are responding to a call.
Our hats are off to our RCMP and firefighters. Thanks for always being there when we need you.
